The Ships to Shore Festival is a maritime event that takes place near Richmond’s Steveston Village. It features live music and boats to explore.
The festival only takes place when a major ship visits the city, so it does not happen every year. In 2026, however, it returns to Garry Point Park in May.
For more information about this year’s Ships to Shore event, continue reading below. To learn about a similar event that takes place every year, see the Richmond Maritime Festival which happens around the Britannia Heritage Shipyard in the summer.
Ships to Shore Festival
In 2026, the Ships to Shore Festival takes place on Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday, May 3rd. The event happens at Garry Point Park, which is a 10-minute walk east of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston Village.
In 2026, the Kaiwo Maru Ship returns to Richmond for the first time since 2017. Known as the “King of the Sea,” it is one of the largest tall ships in the world. The ship is about 361 feet long, 182 feet high, and has 36 sails.
The last festival took place in 2017 at the same location. Before that, the 2016 event happened in Steveston Village over the Canada Day long weekend, which meant especially large crowds.
What to Expect
At the Ships to Shore Festival, visitors can see the Kaiwo Maru Ship up close, enjoy live entertainment, and take part in family-friendly activities throughout the grounds.
The event also includes artisan vendors, themed displays, food trucks, and visitors can buy tickets to board the ship. In 2026, tickets to board the ship and look around cost about $10 per person. Admission to the festival itself is free.
Being a maritime festival and kid-friendly event, don’t be surprised to see the odd pirate walking around and other costume characters too!
Festival Activities in 2026
This year, live performances take place on three stages at Garry Point Park. Headline acts on the Neptune Stage include Cookin’ With Brass and Coco Project. The smaller Dockside Stage features family performers like Ginalina and Oh Clementine. Finally, the Coracle Stage showcases community groups, including Richmond’s The Buttery Biscuits.
Families can visit Kids’ Cove for hands-on activities like fish origami, woodcarving, kite making, face painting, and puppet shows. There are kite displays and kite-making activities as well.
The festival also includes Maker’s Corner with Japanese goods and local crafts. There are also going to be more than 20 food and drink vendors on site.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most out of your Ships to Shore experience.
TIP #1: If you like this kind of event then also consider checking out the Richmond Maritime Festival at the nearby Britannia Shipyard in August.
TIP #2: While in the area consider combining your trip to the Ships to Shore Festival with a visit to any of Richmond‘s other great attractions. See below for details.
Other Information
See the Ships to Shore Festival website for more information on the event.
For ideas on other things to do while in the area, check out the following:
- Steveston Village – the historic fishing village located close by.
- Gulf of Georgia Cannery – a National Historic Site and former salmon cannery with free admission in 2017.
- Britannia Shipyard – an area in Steveston Village with a collection of historic buildings.
- London Heritage Farm – a small historic farm located just a short drive away.
- Steveston Farmers and Artisan Market – an outdoor market that takes place at 4111 Moncton Street in Steveston Village from 10 am to 3 pm every second Sunday in the summer (so quite likely on the same weekend as the Ships to Shore Festival).
- West Dyke Trail – a pleasant trail to walk or cycle along that connects Garry Point Park with Terra Nova Rural Park and the Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment.
Also in Richmond and not too far away by car are the following places of interest:
- International Buddhist Temple – a beautiful religious site that’s open to the public.
- Richmond Night Market – a massive Asian night market located at 8351 River Road.
For a list of other major events throughout the year, see the Festivals & Events Calendar.
